Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-03-10

Il most repreheusihle manner unfor-
tunately. a. he gained the doorway, he
stumbled owe some object and struck
the floor with a shock like an amateur,
earthquake. Mrs. tohhleshnry had
thoughtfully placed a chair against the
door to impede ,hc progress OF the
nocturnal prowlerS The noise awaken
ed her, and he could hear her mliiled
voice. from beneath the sheets, shrek
ing: Samuel. Samuel, the burg
lars are here
$50 am t. grunted Mr.. Cohhles-
bury. rubbing his injured foot absent
on which he had maintained Il desper-
ate hold.
Have you caught themPn cried
Mrs. Cobblesbury. lis it safe for me
to get up?"
Stay where you are, and don't
move" said Mr.. Cobhlcsbury, rs he
limped into the hall. shivering with
cold and excitement. He was not
afraid, but nevertheless began 10 feel
a Willingness to let the burglars depart
~peaccably, So he Strengthened up 10y the
stairway, and yelled ut the top of his
voice:
I'm give YOU Two minutes To leave
the house, We are MI armed Ia the
teeth. Turn the night latch and run
out of the front door If you value Your
lives
Mr.. Cobblesbury could not help con-
graduating himself af.crward when he
remembered having made this speech.
There was no answer, hut a flash OF
light in the hall attracted his attention,
and Charles Simon, Marmaduke, and
Miss Emeline, all half-drcsSed, appear
ed trembling on the scene.
Where are thcy?n cried Charles
Simon and Marmadukc in a breath,
one brandishing 4 revolver and the
other a
downstairs" said Mr.. Cobblesbury
in a theatrical whisper.
.'Emeline, this is no place for YOU
said Charles Simon, taking the light
from her hand. You know / have
learned everything at college, and l
know all about such things. Now, You
Just go and get under the bed in
mothers room, and don't let the twins
make a peep till l call YOU
But the burglars may come in and
chloroform us" objected Miss Emeline.
Il have read of such things in the
newspapers"
s'Hush!" said Mr.. Cobblesbury.
You all talk too loud
Miss Emeline vanished and was
heard barricading the door. MI. Cob
blesbury then said that Marmaduke
must 60 for a policeman.
Marmaduke objected decidedly and
begged to be allowed 10 live a little
longer.
Il will 60" said Charles Simon.
But it would never do to 60 down.
| stairs among the burglars, and Mr..
Cobblesbury looked perplexed.
Il will swing myself out Of the win
dow TO the lower roof, crawl along to
the kitchen. and climb down the grape
arbor," said Charles Simon. Il learn
ed that at college,
Accordingly Mr.. Cobblesberry and
Marmaduke lowered Charles Simon
from the opened window TO the roof
below. and he agreed to give three
whistles when he returned with the
police.
Mr.. Cobblesbury then sat down on
the top stair with his revolver pointed
below, and Marmaduke crouched be-
side him with the lamp. 1t was very
chilly on the top stair.
Say, En-" shouted Marmaduke at
length, give us q blanket; we're
freezin'!'
Several repetitions of this resulted
in the door being opened a few inches
and the required blanket was slipped
out. Mr.. Cobblesbury and Marina
duke accordingly wrapped themselves
up in aboriginal fashion and waited.
II declare" said Mr.. Cobblesbury,
''if Charles Simon doesnt return before
long I shall go back to bed again"
At this moment a tremendous racket
occurred outside, which eliminated in a
violent ringing Of the door-bell and
loud cries in Charles Simon's voice.
81 tell you | amt a burglar" shout.
ed Charles Simon without. You let
me be! Pa, open the door,
They are numbering Ckarles,'
shrieked Mrs. Cobblesbury from the
inner room, and Mr.. Cobblesbtry,
dragging the half-frozen. badly-fright.
ened Marmaduke after him, ran down
stairs and unlocked the door.
Il am coming. my son." yelled Mr.
Cobblesbury. Hold 'em off q minute
loneer."
When the door was opened, how
ever, the three policemen who hat
Charles Simon in custody had realized
that he was not a burglar and released
him. As soon as they understood thu
state of affairs they accompanied Mr.
Cobblcsbury, Charles Simon, and Mar
maduke through the house on a ton.
of inspection with Il dark lantern. A
the dining-room door they halted. 4
noise was plainly heard within. "W,
have them" said one of the policemen
and he shut the door in a great hurry
He then gave an order to the othe
two policemen, AID all three drew
their reyolyers and fired through thu
narrow opening Of the door, which
vas instantly closed again. 1--WE will
nov go in and capture Them" said tn
head policeman, but nobody seemed t
care about going i'll. One of the police
men said that the robbers were killed
of course, and it was useless TO disturb
the bodies before the coroner could b
summoned.
Mr.. Cobblesbury did not think tn
burglars were all killed. as only tire
shots had been fired If there had nc
been a large gang Of them they woul
not have dared remain boldly in til
house all this time.
1t was finally decided that all shout
rush in at once. The door was open
ed, the three policemen, Mr.. Cobbles
bury, Charles Simon, and Marmaduk
entered in triumph, while precisely Z
the same moment an immense bIac
: eat ieJped from the table and flew OF
: OF the room like u streak OF lightning
There were no burglars. but some {
|, the dishes on the table had been she
into small fragments. The policcmc
=, were very angry, and debated whethe
ii would not he wise to arrest Mr.. Col
blesbury. Finally they marched off i
!. high dudgeon. just as Mrs Cobble.
bury, Miss Eineline, and the twins CT
? tered.
where are the burglars?" erie
!, Miss Emeline.
/ Nobody answered.
: But the money is safe" said Mr.,
Cobhlesbury. Everybody looked SUI